The CCNP ROUTE Exam

The CCNP ROUTE Exam

Cisco announced the original ROUTE exam (642-902) in January 2010. The term ROUTE does not act as an acronym; instead, the name describes the content of the exam, which focuses on IP routing. Generally, the exam includes detailed coverage of the EIGRP, OSPF, and BGP IP routing protocols; IPv6; and a few other smaller topics related to IP routing.

 Cisco first announced its initial professional-level certifications in 1998 with the CCNP Routing and Switching certification. CCNP Routing and Switching certification from its inception has included the same kinds of IP routing topics found in today’s ROUTE exam, but the exam names changed over the years. The exam names have tracked the names of the associated Cisco authorized courses for the same topics: Advanced Cisco Router Configuration (ACRC) in the early days, followed by Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks (BSCI) , and now ROUTE , because the current Cisco-authorized course also goes by the name ROUTE .

Like its ancestors, the ROUTE exam is a part of the certification requirements for both of the following Cisco certifications:

• Cisco Certified Networking Professional (CCNP)
• Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP)

Each of these certifications emphasizes different perspectives on some similar topics. CCNP focuses on the skills needed by a network engineer working for an enterprise—

that is, a company that deploys networking gear for its own purposes. CCDP focuses more on design, but good design requires solid knowledge of the technology and configuration. So, although this book frequently refers to the most popular certification of these two—CCNP—the ROUTE exam does apply to both certifications.

Contents of the ROUTE Exam

 Every student who ever takes an exam wants to know what’s on the exam. As with all its exams, Cisco publishes a set of exam topics. These exam topics give general guidance as to what’s on the exam.

You can find the exam topics at Cisco.com. The most memorable way to navigate is to go to www.cisco.com/go/ccnp and look for the ROUTE exam. Also, you can go to the Cisco Learning Network website ( www.cisco.com/go/learnnetspace )—a less memorable URL but a great Cisco certification site. The Cisco Learning Network site hosts exam information, learning tools, and forums in which you can communicate with others and learn more about this and other Cisco exams.

• Interestingly, some of the topics on the ROUTE (300-101) exam are topics that you covered in your CCNA studies (that is, in the CCENT [ICND1] and ICND2 curriculum).
• Also, several topics on the ROUTE exam are not covered in the Cisco official ROUTE course. A big goal of this book is to make sure that you are prepared for any topic you
• might encounter on the ROUTE exam. Therefore, in addition to covering topics in the official ROUTE course, this book also covers topics not found in the ROUTE course.
• Additionally, you might want to review your CCENT (ICND1) and ICND2 materials for exam topics coming from those courses.

Table I-1 lists the topics on the ROUTE exam blueprint, with a reference to the part of this book that covers the topic or a reference to the CCNA course (that is, CCENT

[ICND1] or ICND2) that covers the topic.

Table I-1 ROUTE Exam (300-101) Topics 

How to Take the ROUTE Exam

As of the publication of this book, Cisco exclusively uses testing vendor Pearson Vue ( www.vue.com ) for delivery of all Cisco career certification exams. To register, go to  www.vue.com , establish a login, and register for the 300-101 ROUTE exam. You also need to choose a testing center near your home.

Who Should Take This Exam and Read This Book

This book has one primary audience, with several secondary audiences. First, this book is intended for anyone wanting to prepare for the ROUTE 300-101 exam. The audience includes self-study readers—people who pass the test by studying 100 percent on their own. It includes Cisco Networking Academy students taking the CCNP curriculum, who use this book to round out their preparation as they get close to the end of the Academy curriculum.

The broader question about the audience might well be why you should take the ROUTE exam. First, the exam is required for the aforementioned CCNP and CCDP certifications from Cisco. These certifications exist at the midpoint of the Cisco certification hierarchy. These certifications have broader and deeper technology requirements as compared to the Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician (CCENT) and Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certifications.

The real question then about the audience for this book—at least the intended audience—is whether you have motivation to get one of these professional-level Cisco certifications. CCNP in particular happens to be a popular, well-respected certification. Also, CCDP has been a solid certification for a long time, particularly for engineers who spend a lot of time designing networks with customers, rather than troubleshooting.

Format of the CCNP ROUTE Exam

The ROUTE exam follows the same general format as the other Cisco exams. When you get to the testing center and check in, the proctor will give you some general instructions and then take you into a quiet room with a PC. When you’re at the PC, you have a few things to do before the timer starts on your exam. For example, you can take a sample quiz, just to get accustomed to the PC and to the testing engine. Anyone who has userlevel skills in getting around a PC should have no problems with the testing environment. When you start the exam, you will be asked a series of questions. You answer the question and then move on to the next question. The exam engine does not let you go back and change your answer.